XDA

Thoughts on politics, law, culture and guns from an eclectic, but mainly center-right point of view

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Thought of the Day

“The Final Year,” though, is chiefly a study of Obama-administration foreign policy as overseen by Secretary of State John Kerry, Power and Rhodes. The foreign-policy masters see their three accomplishments as the Paris Climate Accord, the opening to Cuba and the Iran deal.

Given that the former was nonbinding and later dumped by President Trump, while the other two amounted to making concessions to American foes in exchange for virtually nothing, this is a bit like bragging that you suckered the Franklin Mint into giving up a souvenir Elvis plate for only $34.95.

Friday, January 19, 2018

I Think I Have This Figured Out

Concerning a possible "shutdown" of the federal government (which is merely Kabuki theater in my mind--essential services don't shut down at all), I'm wondering who will get the blame this time.

At the end of 1995 and in first few days of 1996 there were 27 days of partial shutdown. The Democrat President Clinton had vetoed the spending bill passed by the Republican controlled House and Senate and the Republicans didn't get a new one passed in time to keep the unimportant government services going. The Republicans got the blame.

From October 1 through 16, 2013, the feds shut down some things because of the lack of a spending bill from the Republican House. The Democrat President Obama and the Democrat controlled Senate wanted things included in the spending bill the Republicans opposed (for a little over two weeks). The Republicans got the blame.

Now the Republicans control the White House, House and Senate but the Democrats want to hold up any spending bill until the Republicans agree to things regarding an immigration bill "fix" for some people here illegally; and the Democrats can hold up the spending bill due to the 60 votes needed to stop a filibuster and only 51 Republican Senators; and therefore a "shutdown" will result.
The Republicans will get the blame.

See, if there is any interruption to unnecessary federal services or any delay in payment to the voracious but inept federal bureaucracy, no matter what the circumstances, it's always the Republicans' fault.